The user can then use systemctl commands in the command line, or add them to menus:

$ systemctl poweroff
$ systemctl reboot

Other commands can be used as well, including systemctl suspend and systemctl hibernate. See the System Commands section in systemctl(1)

Using sudo

Installsudo, and give the user sudo privileges. The user will then be able to use sudo systemctl commands in the command line or in menus:

$ sudo systemctl poweroff
$ sudo systemctl reboot

Other commands can be used as well, including sudo systemctl suspend and sudo systemctl hibernate. See the System Commands section in systemctl(1)

Users without sudo privileges

If users should only be allowed to use shutdown commands, but not have other sudo privileges, then, as root, add the following to the end of /etc/sudoers using the visudo command. Substitute user for your username and hostname for the machine's hostname.

Now your user can shutdown with sudo systemctl poweroff, and reboot with sudo systemctl reboot. Users wishing to power down a system can also use sudo systemctl halt. Use the NOPASSWD: tag only if you do not want to be prompted for your password.

Creating aliases

For convenience, you can add these aliases to your user's ~/.bashrc if you have it enabled (or to /etc/bash.bashrc for system-wide settings):